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TORAH
FIVE BOOKS OF MOSES
NEVI'IM
PROPHETS
KETUVIM
WRITINGS

Chapter 2

Translation and Transliteration of 

1Now Naomi had a kinsman on her husband's side, a man of substance, of the family of Elimelech, whose name was Boaz.

u-l'-no-a-MEE (mee-DA) [mo-DA] l'-ee-SHAH, eesh gi-BOR kha-YIL, mi-mish-PA-khat e-li-ME-lekh, u-sh'-MO bo-AZ.

אוּֽלְנׇעֳמִ֞י (מידע) [מוֹדָ֣ע] לְאִישָׁ֗הּ אִ֚ישׁ גִּבּ֣וֹר חַ֔יִל מִמִּשְׁפַּ֖חַת אֱלִימֶ֑לֶךְ וּשְׁמ֖וֹ בֹּֽעַז׃

2Rut the Moabite said to Naomi, “I would like to go to the fields and glean among the ears of grain, behind someone who may show me kindness.” “Yes, daughter, go,” she replied;

va-TOMER rut ha-mo-a-vi-YAH el-na-o-MI, el-kha-NA ha-sa-DEH va-a-la-k'-TA va-shi-bo-LEEM, a-KHAR a-SHER em-tza-KHEYN b'-ei-NAV, va-TOMER LAH, le-KHI bi-TEE.

בוַתֹּ֩אמֶר֩ ר֨וּת הַמּוֹאֲבִיָּ֜ה אֶֽל־נׇעֳמִ֗י אֵֽלְכָה־נָּ֤א הַשָּׂדֶה֙ וַאֲלַקֳּטָ֣ה בַֽשִּׁבֳּלִ֔ים אַחַ֕ר אֲשֶׁ֥ר אֶמְצָא־חֵ֖ן בְּעֵינָ֑יו וַתֹּ֥אמֶר לָ֖הּ לְכִ֥י בִתִּֽי׃

3and off she went. She came and gleaned in a field, behind the reapers; and, as luck would have it, it was the piece of land belonging to Boaz, who was of Elimelech's family.

va-TE-lekh va-ta-VO va-t'-la-KET ba-sa-DEH a-kha-RAY ha-ko-tz'-REEM va-YI-ker mik-RE-ha khe-L'-kat ha-sa-DEH l'-BO-az a-SHER mi-mish-PA-khat e-li-ME-lekh

גוַתֵּ֤לֶךְ וַתָּבוֹא֙ וַתְּלַקֵּ֣ט בַּשָּׂדֶ֔ה אַחֲרֵ֖י הַקֹּצְרִ֑ים וַיִּ֣קֶר מִקְרֶ֔הָ חֶלְקַ֤ת הַשָּׂדֶה֙ לְבֹ֔עַז אֲשֶׁ֖ר מִמִּשְׁפַּ֥חַת אֱלִימֶֽלֶךְ׃

4Presently Boaz arrived from Beit Lechem. He greeted the reapers, “Hashem be with you!” And they responded, “Hashem bless you!”

v'-hi-nay VO-az BA mi-BAYT LE-khem va-YO-mer la-ko-tz'-REEM a-do-NAI i-ma-KHEM va-YO-m'-ru LO y'-va-re-kh'-KHA a-do-NAI

דוְהִנֵּה־בֹ֗עַז בָּ֚א מִבֵּ֣ית לֶ֔חֶם וַיֹּ֥אמֶר לַקּוֹצְרִ֖ים יְהֹוָ֣ה עִמָּכֶ֑ם וַיֹּ֥אמְרוּ ל֖וֹ יְבָרֶכְךָ֥ יְהֹוָֽה׃

 2:4   Presently Boaz arrived from Beit Lechem

In Hebrew, Bethlehem is Beit Lechem (בית לחם), which means ‘House of Bread.’ In ancient times, Beit Lechem was full of fields of wheat and grains for harvesting, which is why it is significant that so much of the story of Rut takes place during the harvest season, specifically in Beit Lechem. In 2012, archeological evidence of the biblical town of Beit Lechem was discovered. A clay seal was uncovered in the City of David in Jerusalem with the inscription “from Beit Lechem to the king,” presumably sealing a package containing a tax payment in the seventh or eighth century BCE.

5Boaz said to the servant who was in charge of the reapers, “Whose girl is that?”

vai-YO-mer BO-az l'-na-a-RO, ha-ni-TZAV al ha-ko-tz'-REEM, l'-MEE ha-na-a-RAH ha-ZOT

הוַיֹּ֤אמֶר בֹּ֙עַז֙ לְֽנַעֲר֔וֹ הַנִּצָּ֖ב עַל־הַקּוֹצְרִ֑ים לְמִ֖י הַנַּעֲרָ֥ה הַזֹּֽאת׃

6The servant in charge of the reapers replied, “She is a Moabite girl who came back with Naomi from the country of Moab.

vai-YA-an ha-NA-ar ha-NITZ-av al ha-ko-TZ'-reem vai-YO-mer na-a-RAH mo-a-vee-YAH hee ha-SHA-va im no-a-MEE mi-s'-DEI mo-aV

ווַיַּ֗עַן הַנַּ֛עַר הַנִּצָּ֥ב עַל־הַקּוֹצְרִ֖ים וַיֹּאמַ֑ר נַעֲרָ֤ה מֽוֹאֲבִיָּה֙ הִ֔יא הַשָּׁ֥בָה עִֽם־נׇעֳמִ֖י מִשְּׂדֵ֥י מוֹאָֽב׃

7She said, ‘Please let me glean and gather among the sheaves behind the reapers.' She has been on her feet ever since she came this morning. She has rested but little in the hut.”

va-TO-mer a-la-k'-TA-na v'-a-SAFTI va-o-ma-REEM a-kha-RAY ha-ko-tz'-REEM va-TA-VO va-ta-a-MOD may-AZ ha-BO-kher v'-AD-a-TAH zeh shiv-TAH ha-BA-yit m'-a-AT

זוַתֹּ֗אמֶר אֲלַקֳּטָה־נָּא֙ וְאָסַפְתִּ֣י בָעֳמָרִ֔ים אַחֲרֵ֖י הַקּוֹצְרִ֑ים וַתָּב֣וֹא וַֽתַּעֲמ֗וֹד מֵאָ֤ז הַבֹּ֙קֶר֙ וְעַד־עַ֔תָּה זֶ֛ה שִׁבְתָּ֥הּ הַבַּ֖יִת מְעָֽט׃

8Boaz said to Rut, “Listen to me, daughter. Don't go to glean in another field. Don't go elsewhere, but stay here close to my girls.

vai-YO-mer BO-az el ROOT ha-LO sha-ma-a-TA bi-TEE, al tay-l'-KHEE lilkot b'-sa-DEH a-KHER, v'-GAM lo ta-a-vu-REE mi-ZEH, v'-KHO tid-ba-KEEN im-na-a-ro-TAI

חוַיֹּ֩אמֶר֩ בֹּ֨עַז אֶל־ר֜וּת הֲל֧וֹא שָׁמַ֣עַתְּ בִּתִּ֗י אַל־תֵּֽלְכִי֙ לִלְקֹט֙ בְּשָׂדֶ֣ה אַחֵ֔ר וְגַ֛ם לֹ֥א תַעֲבוּרִ֖י מִזֶּ֑ה וְכֹ֥ה תִדְבָּקִ֖ין עִם־נַעֲרֹתָֽי׃

9Keep your eyes on the field they are reaping, and follow them. I have ordered the men not to molest you. And when you are thirsty, go to the jars and drink some of [the water] that the men have drawn.”

AY-nayikh ba-SA-deh a-SHER yik-TZO-run v'-ha-LAKH-t'-a-KHA-ray-HEN, ha-LO tzi-VEE-tee et ha-ne-a-REEM l'-vil-TEE no-ge-ekh, v'-tza-MIT v'-ha-LAKH-t'-a el ha-KE-leem v'-sha-TEET me-a-SHER yish-a-A-vun ha-ne-a-REEM.

טעֵינַ֜יִךְ בַּשָּׂדֶ֤ה אֲשֶׁר־יִקְצֹרוּן֙ וְהָלַ֣כְתְּ אַחֲרֵיהֶ֔ן הֲל֥וֹא צִוִּ֛יתִי אֶת־הַנְּעָרִ֖ים לְבִלְתִּ֣י נׇגְעֵ֑ךְ וְצָמִ֗ת וְהָלַכְתְּ֙ אֶל־הַכֵּלִ֔ים וְשָׁתִ֕ית מֵאֲשֶׁ֥ר יִשְׁאֲב֖וּן הַנְּעָרִֽים׃

10She prostrated herself with her face to the ground, and said to him, “Why are you so kind as to single me out, when I am a foreigner?”

va-tip-OL al-PA-ne-ha va-tish-ta-KHU a-RETZ-a va-to-MER e-LA-yo ma-DU-a ma-TZA-tee KHEYN b'-EY-ne-KHA l'-ha-ki-REE-nee v'-a-NO-khee nokh-ree-YAH

יוַתִּפֹּל֙ עַל־פָּנֶ֔יהָ וַתִּשְׁתַּ֖חוּ אָ֑רְצָה וַתֹּ֣אמֶר אֵלָ֗יו מַדּ֩וּעַ֩ מָצָ֨אתִי חֵ֤ן בְּעֵינֶ֙יךָ֙ לְהַכִּירֵ֔נִי וְאָנֹכִ֖י נׇכְרִיָּֽה׃

11Boaz said in reply, “I have been told of all that you did for your mother-in-law after the death of your husband, how you left your father and mother and the land of your birth and came to a people you had not known before.

vai-YA-an BO-az va-YO-mer LAH, hu-GED hu-GAD LEE kol a-SHER a-SEEYT et-kha-MO-tekh a-KHA-ray MOT ee-SHAYKH va-TA-aZ-VEE a-VEEKH v'-i-MEKH v'-E-retz mo-la-DAY-tekh va-TEL-khee el aM a-SHER lo ya-da-AT te-MOL shil-SHOM

יאוַיַּ֤עַן בֹּ֙עַז֙ וַיֹּ֣אמֶר לָ֔הּ הֻגֵּ֨ד הֻגַּ֜ד לִ֗י כֹּ֤ל אֲשֶׁר־עָשִׂית֙ אֶת־חֲמוֹתֵ֔ךְ אַחֲרֵ֖י מ֣וֹת אִישֵׁ֑ךְ וַתַּֽעַזְבִ֞י אָבִ֣יךְ וְאִמֵּ֗ךְ וְאֶ֙רֶץ֙ מֽוֹלַדְתֵּ֔ךְ וַתֵּ֣לְכִ֔י אֶל־עַ֕ם אֲשֶׁ֥ר לֹא־יָדַ֖עַתְּ תְּמ֥וֹל שִׁלְשֽׁוֹם׃

12May Hashem reward your deeds. May you have a full recompense from Hashem, the God of Yisrael, under whose wings you have sought refuge!”

y'-sha-LEM a-do-NAI po-a-LEKH, u-TE-hee mash-ku-RE-tekh sh'-le-MAH may-im a-do-NAI e-lo-HAY yis-ra-AYL a-SHER ba-AT la-cha-SOT ta-KHAT k'-na-fa-YAV

יביְשַׁלֵּ֥ם יְהֹוָ֖ה פׇּעֳלֵ֑ךְ וּתְהִ֨י מַשְׂכֻּרְתֵּ֜ךְ שְׁלֵמָ֗ה מֵעִ֤ם יְהֹוָה֙ אֱלֹהֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל אֲשֶׁר־בָּ֖את לַחֲס֥וֹת תַּֽחַת־כְּנָפָֽיו׃

13She answered, “You are most kind, my lord, to comfort me and to speak gently to your maidservant—though I am not so much as one of your maidservants.”

va-to-MER em-TZA-kheyn b'-ei-NE-kha a-do-NEE, kee ni-KHAM-ta-NEE, v'-kee di-BAR-ta al-LEV shif-kha-TE-kha, v'-a-NO-khee lo e-HE-yeh k'-a-KHAT shif-kho-TE-kha.

יגוַ֠תֹּ֠אמֶר אֶמְצָא־חֵ֨ן בְּעֵינֶ֤יךָ אֲדֹנִי֙ כִּ֣י נִֽחַמְתָּ֔נִי וְכִ֥י דִבַּ֖רְתָּ עַל־לֵ֣ב שִׁפְחָתֶ֑ךָ וְאָֽנֹכִי֙ לֹ֣א אֶהְיֶ֔ה כְּאַחַ֖ת שִׁפְחֹתֶֽיךָ׃

14At mealtime, Boaz said to her, “Come over here and partake of the meal, and dip your morsel in the vinegar.” So she sat down beside the reapers. He handed her roasted grain, and she ate her fill and had some left over.

vai-YO-mer LAH bo-AZ l'-ET ha-o-KHEL go-SHI ha-LOM v'-a-KHAL-t' min ha-LE-khem v'-ta-BAL-t' pi-TEKH ba-KHO-metz va-TAY-shev mitz-ad ha-ko-tz'-REEM vai-YITZ-vot-LAH ka-LEE va-TO-khal va-tis-BA va-to-TAR

ידundefined

15When she got up again to glean, Boaz gave orders to his workers, “You are not only to let her glean among the sheaves, without interference,

va-TA-kom le-la-KET, va-y'-tsav BO-az et ne-a-RAV lay-MOR: gam BAYN ha-o-ma-REEM t'-la-KET, v'-lo tak-lee-MU-ha

טווַתָּ֖קׇם לְלַקֵּ֑ט וַיְצַו֩ בֹּ֨עַז אֶת־נְעָרָ֜יו לֵאמֹ֗ר גַּ֣ם בֵּ֧ין הָעֳמָרִ֛ים תְּלַקֵּ֖ט וְלֹ֥א תַכְלִימֽוּהָ׃

16but you must also pull some [stalks] out of the heaps and leave them for her to glean, and not scold her.”

v'-GAM shol-ta-SHO-lu LAH min ha-tz'-va-TEEM va-a-za-V'-TEM v'-li-k'-TAH v'-lo ti-g'-a-ru-VAH

טזוְגַ֛ם שֹׁל־תָּשֹׁ֥לּוּ לָ֖הּ מִן־הַצְּבָתִ֑ים וַעֲזַבְתֶּ֥ם וְלִקְּטָ֖ה וְלֹ֥א תִגְעֲרוּ־בָֽהּ׃

17She gleaned in the field until evening. Then she beat out what she had gleaned—it was about an 'efah of barley—

va-t'-la-KAYT ba-sa-DEH ad ha-A-rev va-takh-BOT AYT a-sher li-KAY-tah vai-HEE k'-ay-FAH s'-o-REEM

יזוַתְּלַקֵּ֥ט בַּשָּׂדֶ֖ה עַד־הָעָ֑רֶב וַתַּחְבֹּט֙ אֵ֣ת אֲשֶׁר־לִקֵּ֔טָה וַיְהִ֖י כְּאֵיפָ֥ה שְׂעֹרִֽים׃

 2:17   It was about an ephah of barley

Barley in the Western Negev

Barley, the second of the special agricultural products of the Land of Israel (Deuteronomy 8:8), looks similar to wheat but is a smaller grain, and is surrounded by long, hair-like strands. This explains its Hebrew name se’orah (שעורה), which comes from the word sei’ar (שיער), meaning ‘hair.’ Additionally, barley requires less water and ripens earlier than wheat. In the Bible, the barley harvest signifies the beginning of spring, and barley would be brought to the Beit Hamikdash in Yerushalayim as part of the offerings of the holiday of Pesach. The barley offering in the Temple was a joyous ceremony that teaches us the importance of dedicating a portion of our crops to our Creator before we eat from them ourselves.

18and carried it back with her to the town. When her mother-in-law saw what she had gleaned, and when she also took out and gave her what she had left over after eating her fill,

va-ti-SA va-ta-VO ha-IR va-TE-re kha-MO-ta et a-SHER li-KE-ta, va-TO-tzei va-ti-TEN-la et a-SHER ho-ti-RAH mi-sh'-vo-AH

יחוַתִּשָּׂא֙ וַתָּב֣וֹא הָעִ֔יר וַתֵּ֥רֶא חֲמוֹתָ֖הּ אֵ֣ת אֲשֶׁר־לִקֵּ֑טָה וַתּוֹצֵא֙ וַתִּתֶּן־לָ֔הּ אֵ֥ת אֲשֶׁר־הוֹתִ֖רָה מִשׇּׂבְעָֽהּ׃

19her mother-in-law asked her, “Where did you glean today? Where did you work? Blessed be he who took such generous notice of you!” So she told her mother-in-law whom she had worked with, saying, “The name of the man with whom I worked today is Boaz.”

va-TOMER LAH kha-MO-tah AY-foh li-KAT-teh ha-YOM v'-a-NAH a-SEET y'-hee ma-KEE-rekh ba-ROOKH va-TA-ged la-kha-MO-tah AYT a-SHER a-SEE-tah i-MO va-TOMER SHEM ha-EESH a-SHER a-SEE-tee i-MO ha-YOM BO-AZ

יטוַתֹּ֩אמֶר֩ לָ֨הּ חֲמוֹתָ֜הּ אֵיפֹ֨ה לִקַּ֤טְתְּ הַיּוֹם֙ וְאָ֣נָה עָשִׂ֔ית יְהִ֥י מַכִּירֵ֖ךְ בָּר֑וּךְ וַתַּגֵּ֣ד לַחֲמוֹתָ֗הּ אֵ֤ת אֲשֶׁר־עָֽשְׂתָה֙ עִמּ֔וֹ וַתֹּ֗אמֶר שֵׁ֤ם הָאִישׁ֙ אֲשֶׁ֨ר עָשִׂ֧יתִי עִמּ֛וֹ הַיּ֖וֹם בֹּֽעַז׃

20Naomi said to her daughter-in-law, “Blessed be he of Hashem, who has not failed in His kindness to the living or to the dead! For,” Naomi explained to her daughter-in-law, “the man is related to us; he is one of our redeeming kinsmen.”

va-TOM-er no-a-MI l'-kha-la-TAH ba-RUKH HU la-a-do-NAI a-SHER lo-a-ZAV khas-DO et ha-kha-YIM v'-et ha-ME-tim va-TOM-er LAH no-a-MI ka-ROV LA-nu ha-EESH mi-go-a-LE-nu HU

כוַתֹּ֨אמֶר נׇעֳמִ֜י לְכַלָּתָ֗הּ בָּר֥וּךְ הוּא֙ לַיהֹוָ֔ה אֲשֶׁר֙ לֹא־עָזַ֣ב חַסְדּ֔וֹ אֶת־הַחַיִּ֖ים וְאֶת־הַמֵּתִ֑ים וַתֹּ֧אמֶר לָ֣הּ נׇעֳמִ֗י קָר֥וֹב לָ֙נוּ֙ הָאִ֔ישׁ מִֽגֹּאֲלֵ֖נוּ הֽוּא׃

21Rut the Moabite said, “He even told me, ‘Stay close by my workers until all my harvest is finished.'”

va-TOMER rut ha-mo-a-vi-YAH, gam KI-a-MAR e-LAI im ha-ne-a-REEM a-SHER-LEE tid-ba-KEEN, ad im-KI-LU et kol ha-ka-TZEER a-SHER-LEE.

כאוַתֹּ֖אמֶר ר֣וּת הַמּוֹאֲבִיָּ֑ה גַּ֣ם ׀ כִּי־אָמַ֣ר אֵלַ֗י עִם־הַנְּעָרִ֤ים אֲשֶׁר־לִי֙ תִּדְבָּקִ֔ין עַ֣ד אִם־כִּלּ֔וּ אֵ֥ת כׇּל־הַקָּצִ֖יר אֲשֶׁר־לִֽי׃

22And Naomi answered her daughter-in-law Rut, “It is best, daughter, that you go out with his girls, and not be annoyed in some other field.”

va-TOM-er no-a-MI el-RUT ka-la-TAH, TOV bi-TI ki te-tze-I im-na-a-RO-tav, v'-lo yif-ge-U-vakh b'-sa-DEH a-KHER

כבוַתֹּ֥אמֶר נׇעֳמִ֖י אֶל־ר֣וּת כַּלָּתָ֑הּ ט֣וֹב בִּתִּ֗י כִּ֤י תֵֽצְאִי֙ עִם־נַ֣עֲרוֹתָ֔יו וְלֹ֥א יִפְגְּעוּ־בָ֖ךְ בְּשָׂדֶ֥ה אַחֵֽר׃

23So she stayed close to the maidservants of Boaz, and gleaned until the barley harvest and the wheat harvest were finished. Then she stayed at home with her mother-in-law.

va-tid-BAK b'-na-a-ROT BO-az l'-la-KAYT ad k'-LOT k'-tzeer ha-s'-o-REEM uk-TZEER ha-khi-TEEM va-TAY-shev et kha-mo-TAH

כגוַתִּדְבַּ֞ק בְּנַעֲר֥וֹת בֹּ֙עַז֙ לְלַקֵּ֔ט עַד־כְּל֥וֹת קְצִֽיר־הַשְּׂעֹרִ֖ים וּקְצִ֣יר הַֽחִטִּ֑ים וַתֵּ֖שֶׁב אֶת־חֲמוֹתָֽהּ׃

 2:23   Until the barley harvest and the wheat harvest were finished

One reason that Megillat Rut is read on the holiday of Shavuot, also known as the Feast of Weeks or Pentecost, is that the story took place during the barley and wheat harvest. Shavuot is referred to as the “Feast of the Harvest” (Exodus 23:16). It is the festival which began the season for Jewish farmers to make a pilgrimage to Yerushalayim to offer their first fruit and grain in the Beit Hamikdash, and when an offering of two loaves of bread was brought from the newly harvested wheat crop.